Dave Hadfield was impressed... www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 61899.html

Dave Hadfield was impressed... www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 61899.html

Fantastic post Vastman. Pretty much every word I agree with there.

I'm sure had Solomona of been picked for England in 2004 under similar rules, you and the majority of Trin fans would've wanted him to go well, being a little over the top with how could he played & stuck up for him come hell or highwater as he's one of your boys.

Rangi has been ok for me, a 6/10, but he's been under arguably the most scrutiny of any player in the comp and has been making his debut for the international side on the back of a big year for him, and no man / dad / parent could blame him for having his mind a little elsewhere this last few weeks especially (if it has at all)

He played for NZ then, mate, as I'm sure you know, and yes, most Trin fans supported him in internationals and wanted him to do well. We were proud he was our player, and pleased for him that he won international honours for his country. He wasn't a product of Wakefield Trinity RLFC, so the celebrations were somewhat muted by comparison with the adulation for Rangi playing for England we've seen here.

Personally, I'm more proud of Gaz Ellis and Ben Westwood, neither of whom play for us any more.

Still, it would be uncharitable of me to leave this thread without a ...

"Well done Rangi "

I do know what you mean, mate, but I still reckon, going on the opinions expressed on our board, that a lot of Wakey fans would have had a problem with that. But I can't speak for them, I can only speak for myself.

Put it this way, if Isaac John turns out to be the best thing since netto beans, plays for us for 3 years, qualifies under the residency rule to play for England, and wins a place in the team, I won't be a happy camper. I probably wouldn't diss him... I'd keep my own counsel. If he proves good enough to play for NZ in that time, and gets selected, I'll be delighted for him and hope he shows the world what he can do.
In the meantime, I hope we produce (and keep) a few of our own who make it to international level, so we really have something to cheer about.

Apart from the Fact Rob pulled out of the squad due to injury

That would be why I put "I'm not sure as to availability etc" - the point however remains the same.

TBH, it's happened to some of our players in the past (Tony Smith/Danny Orr/Dean Sampson) who have been sidelined to accommodate flavour of the month who plays for a "bigger" club. These were players who had the class to do well internationally (and not just in the opinion of Cas fans either, but had a lot of neutrals asking the question as to why they were systematically being left out of the GB teams).

It doesn't matter how good we think they are, however. That doesn't get them a team slot. What I will say is that if Jimmy Bloggs wasn't good enough to get into the team, he should be given no favours but should be given the incentive that if he performs well enough in the future, he will be given the opportunity. That, for me, has been a problem in the past, when the tried, tested and failed players get tried, tested and fail once again.

If there's competition for places, the game gets stronger.

I can honestly say that I have never heard any fan state that they believe Dean Sampson had the class to do well at international level.

Stroll on little troll.

Whats the betting that loss was all Rangi's fault. Personally i thought Tompkins had a poor game.

Personally i thought the majority of our backs were poor, the forwards did a good job tonight but probably bar Hall and Reed who both didn't do much but did it well when they did the rest were average.

Tonights below par performances came from

Sinfield, Chase, Tomkins, Briscoe, Yeaman in the backs and JJB in the forwards

Chase= gash.
Tomkins=gash.


Happy with that